Shortly after my nurse preceptor received report from the night nurse, I overheard an interaction between my preceptor and the internist regarding one of our patients. The physician let my nurse know that our patient required a Foley urgently, she had been retaining fluid for the last 12 hours or more and to his astonishment, no one had noticed. Surely, he thought, either the night nurse on shift or the nephrologist who had visited the patient one day earlier should have questioned why this patient had no urine output. Without time to process why the circumstances transpired, I soon found myself placing my first Foley catheter for this patient. After the adrenaline had worn off and the catheter was firmly in place, I reviewed the patient’s
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Considering that the patient was incontinent, the nursing assistant did not need to clean the patient or provide new linen, this could have been the first indicator that something was wrong. The nurse should have monitored the intake and output of the patient, as well as assessed the pain level of the patient, who after retaining urine the entire shift, was in a substantial amount of discomfort. Also, considering the patient’s diminished level of orientation, the nurse and the physician should not have accepted the patient’s silence as evidence that she was …show more content…
Even an experienced nurse can be fallible, and while I initially judged the nurse for her incomplete assessment and lack of thinking, every health profession has the potential for a lapse in judgement. Also, I can commiserate with the night nurse who exhibited enervation, since as a student I am also at risk for fatigue, due to the rigorous demands of the nursing program. Ultimately, this story serves as a reminder why it is important to stay updated on one’s assessment skills, medical knowledge, and critical thinking skills to ensure one is prepared to handle the many challenges of the nursing profession. Increasing self-knowledge can also facilitate professional growth and promote a positive
Considering that the patient was incontinent, the nursing assistant did not need to clean the patient or provide new linen, this could have been the first indicator that something was wrong. The nurse should have monitored the intake and output of the patient, as well as assessed the pain level of the patient, who after retaining urine the entire shift, was in a substantial amount of discomfort. Also, considering the patient’s diminished level of orientation, the nurse and the physician should not have accepted the patient’s silence as evidence that she was …show more content…
Even an experienced nurse can be fallible, and while I initially judged the nurse for her incomplete assessment and lack of thinking, every health profession has the potential for a lapse in judgement. Also, I can commiserate with the night nurse who exhibited enervation, since as a student I am also at risk for fatigue, due to the rigorous demands of the nursing program. Ultimately, this story serves as a reminder why it is important to stay updated on one’s assessment skills, medical knowledge, and critical thinking skills to ensure one is prepared to handle the many challenges of the nursing profession. Increasing self-knowledge can also facilitate professional growth and promote a positive